If you or someone you know finds herself in a relationship crisis, how do you navigate the pain—a pain of lost dreams and expectations for yourself but also for your children? You need courage that’s for sure, and hope in a God who will never let your down even when you feel like all hope is lost. Jody Allen writes: “Jesus doesn’t care about our track records or our reputations – he’s all about redemption.”

Today we welcome, Jody Allen, mom to young adult twins, Director of Women's Ministry at her church, and author of Hidden Heartache: Finding Courage When Your Husband Struggles with Pornography

Some gems from our conversation:

• Shame can trick us into believing that silence is the best way forward.
• Being honest with God doesn't make you less of a Christian, it makes you a more genuine Christian.
• To know that Satan was on the attack helped provide more compassion and gave me perspective that he was the real enemy we were dealing with.
• To forgive someone comes with guardrails; we can forgive but it doesn't mean we can entrust ourselves to them like we can fully trust God.
• Proverbs 3:5, "to not lean on my own understanding" helped me move forward when I couldn't understand the pain and betrayal of a world that celebrates and rewards pornography.
• Shame is a liar and tells me that my legacy of living a kingdom life is tarnished.
• When I hear anothers woman's story, I listen with love and empathy because I have felt her hurt and experienced her shame.

You can find Jody and all her free resources at jodyallenwrites.com

And the feelings wheel she mentioned can be found HERE.

Leave a comment to be entered in a giveaway.

One way to please God and show his heart for all people is to invite. To ask a simple question: “Would you like to come for coffee?” can negate a lifetime of rejections.

To think, "they aren't like me" can make us hesitate to invite. The biblical definition of hospitality means to invite the stranger and some may be a little strange! At least different from how we live, that's for sure. Jesus told us what love is when he told the story of the good Samaritan. I love that story and I'm always a little convicted!

How about you? Is it a risk to invite someone you don't know? God will give you the courage if he is leading the way.

Some thoughts from today's podcast

• What kind of courage does it take to invite a stranger? It takes a Paul-courage, a Peter-courage, a Samson-courage, a Joshua-courage.
• You might think hospitality means having your friends over. It does. But it’s so much bigger and grander.
• Another way to explain what God means by hospitality is to give without a thought of receiving anything in return.
• Someone said, “Share the Gospel. Use words if necessary.” I would add, “Share your life. Make soup and maybe brownies.”
• To invite a stranger into your home and out of their life—for just a few hours—creates a sacred space and isn’t far from holy living.

We miss you, Doug!

From Never Alone: Stories of Invitation and Connection

Fellow writer and mother of adult children, Michele Morin, talks about modeling who God is for our children as our greatest legacy. Mother of four grown boys-now-men with families of their own, I love how Michele trusts God for each new season of her life, even a season with a chronic illness included. You will be blessed with tons of practical wisdom today as we talk about how we deal with unanswered prayers and questions and try not to catastrophize every little thought that comes into our brains.

Some gems from our convo:

• We make the mistake of defining God's goodness by how he answers our prayers—or not.
• I used to have to "send myself to my room" for a time-out so I could do some much-needed attitude adjustment.
• I had to learn that making a good life for a family I loved was exactly where and what God wanted me to do and be.
• Never forget that we are modeling for our kids what God is like.
• Only a free person has the privilege of rest.
• Chronic disease helps me stay present to today's work rather than projecting and catastrophizing what may lay ahead.
• We tend to put our hope in our prayers instead of God himself which can make what we pray for an idol.
• To lean into God's goodness on a daily basis helps to keep our walk with God fresh and not rote.

Michele is the author of over 8 YouVersion Bible Reading devotionals which you can find HERE.

She's a regular contributor at DesiringGod.com.

Because “the way we live our days will be, after all, the way we live our lives,” you are invited to peruse Michele’s writing on her website here at your leisure.

michelemorin.net

Michele Morin is a reader, writer, speaker, and gardener who does life with her family on a country hill in Maine. She has been married to an unreasonably patient husband for thirty years, and together they have four sons, four daughters-in-love, and five adorable grandchildren.

Active in educational ministries with her local church, Michele delights in sitting at a table surrounded by women with open Bibles. She loves hot tea and well-crafted sentences, poems that stop her in her tracks, and days at the ocean with the whole family. She laments biblical illiteracy and advocates for the prudent use of “little minutes.”

Can you have peace in the insanity of the Sandwich Season? Ruthie Gray, author and host the podcast, Sandwich Season Sanity, joins me to today to talk about the struggles we may face when juggling several difficult and time-consuming roles. We are never alone because God knows the way that we take, and you will be encouraged and maybe challenged from our conversation.

Our peace comes from daily laying down our lives, our plans, our "To-Do Lists" to the One Who really is in control. "Pray your list," Ruthie says. And when we do, we will have peace in any life-season.

SIGN UP FOR THE PEACEFUL MOM COLLECTION WITH RUTHIE GRAY

Some gems from our podcast today:

• Laying down our past roles doesn't come easy because we can wrap our identity in those roles instead of who we are in Christ.
• There's a grief in releasing our kids and their kids into the Lord's control instead of hanging on to them for dear life.
• I can't afford to not spend time in God's Word, journaling, praying Scripture back to God and giving him my "to-do list" for the day.
• Our peace can only be as big as our faith, clinging to God no matter what the day brings.
• If you want a good relationship with your adult kids, ask open-ended questions instead of telling them what they already know about you and your well-laid out plans for your life (and their's!)
• I can idolize my title like "mom" or "grandma" so when they change, I go through an unnecessary identity crisis.
• We need to allow time for our own soul care to be healthy and ready for the next challenge life offers, welcomed or not.

Ruthie Gray's book, Empty Next Awakening may be just what you need currently and it also makes a great gift for a friend.

Find out more from Ruthie at ruthiegray.com and you can get her 5 short podcasts on getting peace in your insanity seasons HERE .

Yes, everyone has a story worth sharing and you will love Marci's stories and inspiration on today's Living a Legacy Life Podcast.

Marci Seither’s writing career began after her humor article was published in a small-town newspaper. Since then, she has authored two books and hundreds of articles for local papers as well as Guideposts and Focus On The Family. And she now hosts the radio show and podcast: The Biscuit Book Club - how cute is that?

Today we are offering two giveaways: Marci's new magazine for readers, eaters and writers, as she says. As well has her beautiful hard back retreat at the lake devotional called Lake Side Retreat.

• You can hear someone's story from asking simple questions like, "Tell me about your lunch box growing up?" or "Have you ever felt lost?"
• If you feel stuck in taking the next step in doing what meant you to do, start where you are standing right now.
• Start observing more—if you see a need, fill a need.
• If there's room on the floor, there's room for one more—invite!
• Volunteering is a gift to yourself.
• You can impact someone by simply showing up in the messy middle of your own life.
• Don't wait until the timing is just right to move forward—that right time may never happen.
• The "red pen" mentality can keep you from writing your story and that might mean your story is lost forever.

Everyone gets a free Printable Download of Marci's latest Southern Christian Writer Magazine—as she says, a magazine for readers, eaters and writers. If you prefer a printed one (totally worth it, by the way - for the recipes, alone - contact Marci.)

Catch her radio show and podcast HERE.

Life is full of "whelm" and then there's "overwhelm!" Today we get to talk about what it means to feel overwhelmed, and how we can use that very thing to draw us closer to our Savior, the Lord of peace. To be overwhelmed is defined as the weight of a load too hard to bear. We are human so we fail, time and time again, and I was comforted by that statement by my guest, Mary DeMuth on today's episode, God's Peace in the Overwhelm.

Mary DeMuth is a literary agent, daily podcaster at the PrayEveryDay.show, Scripture, artist, speaker, and the author of more than fifty books, including The Most Misunderstood Women of the Bible, The Most Overlooked Women of the Bible and her latest, The Most Overwhelmed Women of the Bible. Any or all three will make great gifts this Christmas and include questions at the end of each chapter to help you lead and enjoy a small book group. She lives in Texas with her husband and is the mom to three adult children. Find out more at

marydemuth.com.

Some gems from our legacy conversation:

• From rapidly reading the Bible—which she tries to do once or twice a year—Mary discovered the stories of many women in Scripture that we don't hear very often.
• God's timing is always perfect but it doesn't always feel like it is.
• We need to make sure we seek God for Himself instead of deifying his blessings and our prayer requests.
• Taking a day of rest helps us reset our strength and guidance in our overwhelming lives.
• From looking in Scripture, we find normal women just like us facing hardship and challenges and we can learn from their mistakes and be inspired by their faithfulness.
• Find friends who will tell you the "ingredients" of how God created you to be his masterpiece.
• To be overwhelmed is defined as the weight of a load to hard to bear.
• To help a friend who feels overlooked you need to demonstrate God's love vs stating platitudes.
• If you feel overwhelmed and overlooked, you are not alone as we can find hope and encouragement in how these women in Scripture stayed faithful to God in their overwhelm.

Fellow podcaster and Bible teacher, James Early, joins us today with some Bible-based encouragement to love, pray and think like Jesus. Is that actually possible? you might wonder. According to James, we can grow daily in our obedience and reformed mindset so that we can, all for heaven's sake and for God's kingdom and glory.

One way James shows God's love is through weekly Bible studies with a group of inmates in a local prison. His podcast is The Bible Speaks Today and from our chat, you will know that it does!

Take advantage of James' free resource HERE.

Some gems from our conversation:

• Lack of unity often stems from people thinking they are always right.
• Jesus wouldn't tell us to have His mindset if it were not possible.
• To "repent" means in part to think in a new way.
• To think like Jesus is to not be earth-bound in our minds nor self-focused.
• Praying like Jesus is to start and end with God. We often start our prayers with the problem and end with the problem.
• True prayer is surrendering to God's will.
• My legacy isn't to have a bronze statue—rather it's to love others as Jesus loves.
• Sometimes we can have the truth but not live the truth.
• We can have this mindset: "What if I treat others the way I would treat Jesus?"
• My commitment is to do whatever I can to further the cause of Christ.

James helps people learn to think, pray, and love like Jesus. He gives talks and conducts workshops on the Bible to churches and groups, as well as online. Since 2008 his prison ministry at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT has transformed hundreds of lives.

In fall of 2019, James started The Bible Speaks to You Podcast, which has had listeners in over 200 countries and territories. His podcast is listed on the Feedspot list of top 100 Bible podcasts. Through his Jesus Mindset Coaching program, James helps people embrace the mindset of Jesus and rediscover their God-given ability to think and act more like Jesus. He lives in Bethel, CT with his wife of 35 years, Polly Castor. They have three grown children. He loves hiking and organic gardening.

Don't forget to check out his free resource just for my listeners HERE.

One Sunday after church, I stood by my car before getting in and looked around me. Young parents busy getting their tired kids buckled in didn’t give me a second thought; their minds on home and lunch and naps, all in short order. As cars and vans drove away, hands waved and I heard voices ring out, “So long!” and “Have a great rest of your day!

Single in my 20’s, in a new career, a new town and a new church, I felt okay, mostly. Life was full and purposeful, but lonely on occasion. I wondered why families didn’t ask me over for Sunday dinner.

The Bible says God sets the lonely in families. (Psalm 68:6) I was lonely. I needed to be set somewhere.

I got tired of waiting. Listen to what I did and what you can do, too, if you are singng the Parking Lot Blues.

PS

Please feel free to send my your stories of feeling lonely in a crowd. I'd love to share it on the podcast or in the newsletter. It can remain anonymous. Email me: sue@welcomeheart.com

Some gems from the parking lot blues:

• Mom’s hospitality radar, in good working order on most days, placed itself on high alert each Sunday morning.
• I needed family so I gathered some folks. Sometimes you just have to make it happen and not wait for someone else to pick up the phone or send a text.
• Loneliness is the feeling that no one is thinking about you, much less cares about you and what you’re going through.
• We feel shame with loneliness and we know where shame comes from. Shame comes from the pit and God’s children are not pit people.
• When these ladies met with me it was like Jesus looking through the window of my Toyota Camry to say, “Hey Sue, I see you and I’m coming over and we’re going to make some changes where changes need making.”
• If you are feeling lonely at times, you are not alone. Make that call. I’ll give you my recipe for apple crisp. It’s a killer—for loneliness.

Mom and Aunt Joy at Sunday dinner (not lunch, not supper.)

Trishie’s Best-Ever Apple Crisp

In a 7 1/2 x 11 glass casserole, mix together the following:

(Trish says: “Mix in the baking pan and save washing a dish.” I wholeheartedly agree.)

5 large apples, peeled and sliced

1 t cinnamon

1/4 t nutmeg

1 t to 1 T lemon juice, depending on tartness of the apples

1 cup water

Topping

In a medium bowl combine:

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

Cut in until crumbly:

1/2 cup firm butter (I use pastry cutter or box grater)

Spread topping over the apples. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Comfort food, simple and delicious.

A welcome home is a fragrant home.